The best black dresses are inexpensive, comfortable, fashionable, and ethically made from eco-friendly fabrics. They make beautiful, durable, and versatile additions to any modern wardrobe.
Many responsible clothing brands offer ethical and cheap black dresses and gowns that make dressing well and sustainably easy. They create flattering and popular styles that help you craft fabulous outfits.
Black is a timeless color that doesn't go out of style. You can wear black dresses for an effortless or formal look, on every season and occasion, including everyday wear or an upcoming event.
Check out our selection below for the best affordable and sustainable black dresses made under high standards.
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1. Mata Traders Paula Black Mini Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, maternity, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Values: Fair Trade, organic, artisan craft
Prices: $10-$70
Mata Traders is a design-driven, sustainable, Fair Trade clothing brand helping to end global poverty and inspire consumers to change the fashion industry. It offers affordable, original, and ethical black dresses, all made by artisans in India and Nepal.
The Chicago-based clothing label wants to make fashion a better world by creating unique, sustainable clothing pieces up to extended sizes that empower women to use their buying power for change.
Mata Traders is passionate about fighting inequality, child labor, and global poverty. The brand is committed to keeping craft traditions alive while providing meaningful work, fair wages, and economic independence.
SHOP MATA TRADERS
2. Everlane Weekend Maxi Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, denim, knitwear, outerwear, activewear, underwear, bags, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $10-$80
Everlane is an ethical fashion brand creating modern and beautiful essentials, at the best factories, without traditional markups. It's a great destination to buy high-quality, affordable, sustainable black dresses.
The clothing retailer is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and sells primarily online. It uses sustainable and vegan materials such as organic cotton and recycled fabrics.
The apparel brand offers ethically made and designed-to-last clothing and accessories for women and men. It believes in exceptional quality to make a difference.
Everlane is widely known for its radical transparency. It educates consumers on its supply chain, factories, employees, and the price breakdown of each product.
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3. WVN Maddox Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, knitwear, sportswear, loungewear, outerwear, sleepwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Santa Cruz, California, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, B Corp
Prices: $10-$150
WVN is a new, modern clothing brand that makes sustainable women's clothing using artisanal, traditional techniques and practices. It offers stylish, ethical, and sustainable black dresses.
WVN uses GOTS-certified organic cotton fabrics and Fair Trade factories to create clothing that looks great while caring for the Earth. It offers beautifully handcrafted apparel and accessories for contemporary women.
SHOP WVN
4. Ninety Percent Hyacinth Tencel Ruched Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear, outerwear, knitwear, underwear
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, give back
Prices: $30-$140
Ninety Percent is a sustainable womenswear and menswear label that shares 90% of its profits. It uses organic cotton to make beautiful and eco-friendly black dresses.
Ninety Percent is GOTS and PETA Vegan certified and is on a mission to be the best for customers, producers, and the planet. It distributes profits between the causes it supports and the people who make its collection happen.
SHOP NINETY PERCENT
5. LA Relaxed Effie Modal Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear, sleepwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, inclusive, made in the USA
Prices: $40-$120
LA Relaxed is an ethical and sustainable women's clothing brand that offers super soft clothes ethically made in Los Angeles, USA. It stocks a wide range of cute black dresses made from eco-friendly materials.
LA Relaxed creates affordable, sustainable, inclusive clothing that offers comfort and quality. It helps you be comfortable with yourself, body and mind, and soul.
LA Relaxed makes choices that take less from our planet and avoid unnecessary damage to the Earth and pain to human beings making our clothes.
SHOP LA RELAXED
6. Reformation Black Midi Dress
Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, swimwear, activewear, loungewear, underwear
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, Fair Trade, carbon-neutral, made in the USA
Prices: $10-$180
Reformation is a clothing brand that makes sustainable and affordable black dresses. It offers a collection of stylish dresses for petite up to extended sizes.
The clothing retailer designs effortless silhouettes that celebrate the feminine figure with the most beautiful and sustainable fabrics possible. It pays attention to minimizing its social and environmental impacts.
Reformation uses sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, linen, and Tencel lyocell. It also makes some of its clothes with upcycled and recycled materials, such as regenerated nylon or deadstock fabrics.
Six of its suppliers have attained a social compliance certification like Fair Trade, SA8000, or WRAP. They are working to increase participation in social certification programs to ensure good working conditions.
SHOP REFORMATION
7. Etica Olivia Halter Maxi Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, denim, outerwear, loungewear
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $40-$220
Etica is a sustainable lifestyle brand that ethically makes affordable, adjustable, stylish black dresses from GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Etica uses innovative design and cutting-edge technology to minimize waste, water, and energy consumption. It focuses on making beautiful apparel with fair labor, environmentally conscious manufacturing, and social responsibility.
SHOP ETICA
8. Threads 4 Thought Gina Ruffle Tiered Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, denim, loungewear, sportswear, knitwear, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: NYC, New York, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $20-$90
Threads 4 Thought is a lifestyle brand of everyday basics, denim, and other fashion produced responsibly. It creates affordable, fashionable, comfortable, and sustainable black dresses.
The clothing label supports sustainable initiatives to move the fashion industry towards a healthier future for all. It sets an example by exceeding industry standards through innovation in materials and production.
Threads 4 Thought manufactures its clothes in Guatemala and China. It ensures the best working conditions and sustainable production processes.
Threads 4 Thought uses eco-friendly materials to create stylish and comfy clothes, including OCS-certified organic cotton. It also partners with the International Rescue Committee to support in-need communities.
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9. Symbology Cherry Blossom Modal Maxi Wrap
Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear, outerwear, maternity, bridal, accessories
For: Women
From: Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Values: Organic, inclusive, artisan craft
Prices: $50-$80
Symbology is an ethical fashion label that offers figure-flattering designs ethically made by women artisans in India and developing countries. It produces modern designs with beautiful and soft fabrics.
Symbology is committed to preserving handmade crafts and providing sustainable employment and fair wages. It creates sustainable black dresses using natural fiber textiles dyed with AZO-free dyes and then block-printed or embroidered by hand.
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10. Amour Vert Lux Paris Rib Midi Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, denim, loungewear, knitwear, outerwear, bags, accessories, shoes, jewelry
For: Women
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, made in the USA, give back
Prices: $90-$130
Amour Vert is a slow fashion brand that makes ethical and sustainable black dresses made from soft and perfectly stretchy eco-responsible fabrics.
The sustainable brand creates fabulous clothes in limited quantities to contribute to a more eco-friendly future. Its clothing pieces are affordable, chic, comfortable, and better for the planet.
Amour Vert is committed to making fashion thoughtful, versatile, and sustainable. You'll want to keep its timeless pieces in your wardrobe forever.
The eco-friendly label has been planting trees in North America since it opened its doors with its partner American Forest. It promotes sustainable practices and positive environmental impacts.
SHOP AMOUR VERT
11. Leena & Lu Pima T-Shirt Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear, knitwear, nightwear, accessories
For: Women, children
From: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, BIPOC
Prices: $30-$60
Leena & Lu is an organic clothing brand that makes high-quality, sustainable black dresses from the softest fair-trade cotton that is safer for you and your family and better for the environment.
Leena & Lu produces its garments in small batches with natural dyes focusing on quality, not quantity. It wants to take care of you with the most sophisticated styles that easily transition into daytime loungewear.
Leena & Lu believes in sustainable, fair trade, and GOTS-certified organic products, which are better for everyone involved in the supply chain, from the manufacturers to the consumers.
SHOP LEENA & LU
12. Tentree Cypress Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, knitwear, loungewear, outerwear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Vancouver, Canada
Values: Organic, B Corp, recycled, give back
Prices: $30-$80
Tentree is an Earth-first fashion brand designing long-lasting womenswear for a healthy, sustainable world with recycled materials and organic fabrics such as cotton and hemp.
It offers affordable, sustainable black dresses made from Tencel lyocell using wood pulp sourced from sustainably-managed forests. They are super soft, cozy, ultra comfy, and go-to's for the perfect outfit.
The sustainable fashion brand is B Corp certified and partners with global charitable organizations to plant trees and rehabilitate natural ecosystems.
Tentree aims to guide you on your journey and empower you to do your best for the environment. It planted over 61 million trees and restored land in over eight countries.
SHOP TENTREE
13. No Nasties Pocket Maxi Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear
For: Women, men
From: Goa, India
Values: Organic, local, fair trade, give back
Prices: $40-$90
No Nasties is a sustainable clothing brand that creates clothes making the planet better. It offers 100% organic cotton black dresses made in India in a fair trade environment.
No Nasties helps you make green choices for a planet-positive wardrobe. The Indian fashion brand produces beautiful garments as sustainably as possible, from raw material to end-product.
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14. Outerknown Hightide Hoodie Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, swimwear, loungewear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled
Prices: $50-$170
Outerknown is a clothing label that creates cute, cheap, and eco-friendly clothing for women and men rooted in sustainability and transparency. It makes casual black dresses with the most planet-friendly fibers, like organic cotton.
Outerknown keeps strict sustainability rules and aims to raise the standard for quality, and sustainable design in the global fashion industry. It uses organic and recycled materials to reimagine and embrace circularity.
Accredited by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), the ethical fashion brand invests in the livelihoods of over 5K workers through Fair Trade USA. Three of its partners are Fair Trade Certified.
SHOP OUTERKNOWN
15. Thought Alianna Corduroy Midi Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, knitwear, outerwear, loungewear, underwear, sportswear, nightwear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $10-$90
Thought is a fashion label offering ethically made and sustainable black dresses. It creates stylish and affordable ready-to-wear with eco-friendly materials like organic cotton.
Thought makes timeless pieces in a flattering shape and breathable fabric that work wherever you are. The organic brand offers many pure cotton and vegan options.
Thought is committed to responsible design, ethical sourcing, and fostering change. It aims to show there are more sustainable ways to live, dress, and be.
Thought supports TRAID, a UK charity that works to minimize, improve, and transform the environmental impact of clothing manufacturing. Send your clothes back to TRAID to support the people and places making your clothing.
SHOP THOUGHT
16. Toad&Co Rosalinda Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, knitwear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan
Prices: $50-$90
Toad&Co is a sustainable fashion brand making socially and environmentally committed outdoor clothes. The label creates cute and affordable womenswear.
It offers many eco-friendly black dresses made from organic cotton and Tencel Lyocell. It uses an all-star blend of eco-friendly fibers that breathes well with good stretch and unparalleled resilience.
Toad&Co aims to make a difference in cleaning up a dirty apparel industry, educating people on sustainable practices, and inspiring folks to live their best lives.
The brand believes in sustainability and spontaneity because every day is an adventure. It uses eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, hemp, Tencel, and recycled fabrics to make affordable clothes.
Toad&Co offers a large selection of sustainable and vegan outdoor wear and equipment, ethically made with cruelty-free and eco-friendly materials.
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17. ABLE Jane Maxi Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, denim, knitwear, outerwear, bags, accessories, shoes, jewelry
For: Women
From: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Values: Organic, artisan craft
Prices: $50-$160
ABLE is a sustainable clothing brand made in India. It's working with communities to stop the cycle of poverty by producing slow fashion and paying a living wage to women.
The label ethically makes functional, affordable, sustainable black dresses for everyday wear. It uses eco-friendly materials such as certified organic cotton, lyocell, and linen for its collections.
ABLE believes in progress over perfection and aims to be transparent and accountable to end poverty in the fashion industry. It publishes on its website the lowest worker wages of its manufacturing partners.
SHOP ABLE
18. Una Pluma Open Black Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear, activewear, outerwear, underwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Portland, Oregon, United States
Values: Organic, artisan craft
Prices: $20-$60
Una Pluma is a sustainable clothing brand that makes GOTS-certified organic cotton black dresses. It designs its clothes in Oregon and crafts them in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Una Pluma employs skilled craftspeople and pays fair wages in safe working environments. It has committed to organic fabrics, natural fibers, and low-impact dyes to protect you, your loved ones, and our planet from toxic chemicals.
SHOP UNA PLUMA
19. PACT Rib Jazz Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, activewear, loungewear, outerwear, sleepwear, underwear, maternity, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Boulder, Colorado, United States
Values: Fair Trade, organic, recycled
Prices: $10-$140
PACT creates affordable, organic, Fair Trade clothing for children, women, and men. It consciously and ethically makes quality organic cotton black dresses suitable for any season.
The sustainable clothing brand chooses eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton and recycled materials to make soft and resistant basics in Fair Trade factories.
PACT considers the people who make the clothes as important as those who wear them. It encourages people to care about what they put in their bodies and on their bodies.
SHOP PACT
20. People Tree Rib Midi Dress
Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, knitwear, underwear, activewear, nightwear, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled, artisan craft, give back
Prices: $20-$110
People Tree is an online garment retailer making black dresses from environmentally-friendly materials, including Fair Trade, certified organic cotton, and recycled materials.
In 2013, it became the first fashion company to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) product label, guaranteeing dedication and compliance with the principles of Fair Trade.
People Tree offers a wide range of organic basics, including GOTS and Fairtrade-certified organic cotton black dresses. They feature a beautiful, flattering fitted shape with long sleeves that combine sophistication and originality.
People Tree is committed to working with disadvantaged farmers and workers to promote fairer trading conditions. It helps combat poverty and employs people in underserved communities around the world.
SHOP PEOPLE TREE
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About the Author: Alex Assoune
What We're Up Against
Multinational corporations overproducing cheap products in the poorest countries.
Huge factories with sweatshop-like conditions underpaying workers.
Media conglomerates promoting unethical, unsustainable products.
Bad actors encouraging overconsumption through oblivious behavior.
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